Sid Prabhu-Naik will be among the Cambridge University boxers aiming to nail down a spot in the Varsity Match squad when they battle it out in the annual Town v Gown clash on Saturday night (first bout 7.30pm).

Prabhu-Naik was part of the Light Blues team that suffered a narrow 5-4 defeat to Oxford University in last year’s Varsity encounter.

And he is one of the few fighters still involved from last season as coach Lee Mitchell looks to blood many newcomers at the Guildhall.

Prabhu-Naik goes into the Town v Gown off the back of a split decision defeat to an opponent from Birmingham’s St Francis club at a show in Irthlingborough.

Max Stewart will also be in action after making his debut at Irthlingborough, where he was retired in the opening round after being overwhelmed by a strong opponent from Northampton’s King’s Heath gym.

Among those making their bows are Harry Holdstock, James Kuo, Pierre Wheller, Aden Cope, Judah Ope, Neal Pointon and Mo Saccrine, while women’s captain Katie MacVarish will also be taking part.

Mitchell said: “We haven’t had many out this season, but we don’t start training until October and the first three or four weeks is just about getting them up to speed.

“The Town v Gown is more about the ones who haven’t boxed before to see how they handle a big crowd and a big atmosphere.”

But not all Cambridge boxers will be at Town v Gown due to a clash with the BUCS Championships in Stoke this weekend.

Jamil Shah-Foridi will be going for glory in the men’s lightweight category and Aidan Dobney competes in the men’s welterweight division, while Matt Ashford is in action in the men’s middleweight competition.

In the women’s categories, Maria Do, Lucy Harris and Gaia Laidler battle it out at flyweight, featherweight and light-middleweight respectively.